Effect of modifiers of arachidonic acid metabolism on radiation transformation and eicosanoid formation in C3H/10T1/2 cells.

In these studies, we performed experiments designed to elucidate the role that arachidonic acid metabolism plays in oncogenic transformation in vitro. The levels of TxB2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha were elevated in cells treated with X-rays. A significant increase in the levels of these eicosanoids was observed following irradiation. Treatment of cells with the anticarcinogenic protease inhibitors, Bowman-Birk Inhibitor (BBI) and N-tosyl-L-phenylalanine chloromethyl ketone (TPCK), significantly reduced the levels of TxB2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha present. Indomethacin treatment significantly reduced the levels of TxB2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha to < 10% of those present in untreated or irradiated cells. We also report that addition of lipoxygenase or minoxidil [a selective inhibitor of prostacyclin (PGl2) synthetase] led to a highly significant decrease in transformation. In addition, minoxidil treatment resulted in a significant reduction in the levels of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha in irradiated cells. Our results suggest the hypothesis that the relative levels of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha are important in radiation induced transformation.